National league 1 previews week 14 - round 14...
By Tom Little.
December 3 2013
Saturday 7th December 2013 including Coventry Rugby v Rosslyn Park.
Fixtures Week 14 - 7th December.
Blaydon v Worthing Raiders
Cinderford v Tynedale
Coventry Rugby v Rosslyn Park
Henley Hawks v Fylde
Hull Ionians v Esher
Old Albanian v Blackheath
Richmond v Loughborough Students
Wharfedale v Doncaster Knights
Every fixture list is now throwing up crucial games at the top end of the table, this Saturday is no exception with four of the five top sides all meeting each other. It was a close run thing for all four teams last week and this week has the making of a similar nerve wracking occasion.
The key game must be that of Coventry Rugby at home to one of their traditional rivals Rosslyn Park. It is third against second as both teams are 6 points behind leaders Doncaster Knights and both teams cannot afford to let the Knights increase their lead over them. It could be a defining moment of the season for both teams. A fuller more detailed analysis of the preview of this game will follow at the end of this general preview.
Leaders Doncaster Knights are away to Wharfedale who are now up to 5th place having won 6 out of their last 7 matches. Dale have only lost once at home and include wins over Coventry Rugby and Esher whist Doncaster’s two losses have both been away at Henley Hawks and Blaydon. With both teams on form it could be closer than first expected. Wharfedale need to win to put pressure on 4th position whilst Doncaster want to win to distance themselves from the chasing Rosslyn Park and Coventry. Certainly a difficult one to predict which could even go to a narrow home victory.
Esher after their gruelling 3 losses in their last 3 games meeting the top three sides face somewhat of an easier fixture away to bottom side Hull Ionians. Yet Hull Ionians have been showing some improvement of late with their pack more and more competitive. Esher need to put behind them their recent losses as a win could put them back in third place, whilst another loss for Ionians would surely seal their fate.
Henley Hawks are looking for their third consecutive win as they face a Fylde side whose fine home form belies their inconsistent away form. With both sides capable of scoring plenty of tries Henley need to stop the fast offloading style of their visitors to make their home advantage count. A win for Fylde could put them in sight of a top four position.
Richmond with only three wins languish in the third relegation place, put up a good display at Fylde but to no avail face a Loughborough Students side looking for their third successive win. A game which could go either way but Richmond do need the win to move out of the danger zone.
Blaydon now unbeaten in their last 9 games face a Worthing Raiders side who have been very inconsistent of late. However, the Raiders cannot be taken too lightly even when seemingly a lost cause as they have a penchant for scoring late on. The power of the Blaydon side should prove that home advantage counts.
It is a mid-table clash as Old Albanian take on Blackheath. With both sides struggling to put a good run together, this is a game which could go either way but home advantage should just swing it for Old Albanian.
The final game sees two of the bottom four sides meet as Cinderford take on Tynedale. Dale need the win to give them a chance to escape from the relegation zone whilst Cinderford can easily be sucked back into it without this win. It may come down to home advantage again as the home form of Cinderford is far better than the away form of Tynedale.
Coventry Rugby v Rosslyn Park match preview.
This Saturday, 7th December sees Coventry Rugby return home to the Butts Park Arena, kick off as usual is 3 pm, as they take on one of their historical rivals Rosslyn Park. Signs are that already a record league crowd is expected as third placed Coventry take on second placed Rosslyn Park.
Not only are both teams on 49 points but also have the same number of wins - 10 apiece. Rosslyn Park are ahead of Coventry by dint of a marginal better points difference.
Park were founded in 1879. They have had their ups and downs but now have Championship aspirations and have been showing steady improvement in this league over the last three seasons, finishing 4th last season.
Some pre-season changes occurred with the long serving Jan Bonney departing to be replaced by a returning Alex Codling as Head Coach after spells at Barking, Rosslyn Park, London Scottish and Rotherham.
After last season’s impressive display Rosslyn Park have managed to keep the majority of last season’s squad plus some key recruits mainly from last season’s champions Ealing Tfs. Former Ealing players include Peter Hodgkinson an impressive running fullback, Sam Shires a prominent No 8 as well as flanker Lee Starling. James Ingliss an experienced lock has come in from Esher as well as Jordan Burns a promising No 9 from Worthing Raiders.
Henry Staff a well-regarded centre has moved from Bedford Blues with hookers Adam Bellamy from Dings and Tom Cobb from Richmond. Flanker Harry Broadbent has found the step up from Caldy beneficial earning good reviews whilst Park can also call on winger Joe Ajuwa on loan from London Welsh.
Over 16 players have been retained from last season including influential No 8 Hugo Ellis, winger Charlie Broughton and centre Ed Lewis-Pratt. Flying winger Dave Vincent is also back with centre Dom Shabbo. Experienced scrum-half Matt Heeks also has competition from Jack Gash whilst at fly-half Sam Katz was earlier kicking goals with Scott Sneddon as his impressive replacement when required.
A very experienced pack has Aaron Liffchak and Laurence Ovens at prop with Richard Boyle at lock and Wiil Bowley in the back row.
Rosslyn Park like Coventry Rugby have won 10 of their 13 matches so far including home wins over Blaydon, Wharfedale, Loughborough Students and Esher. They have lost two games so far, away to Fylde and away last week to Doncaster after leading until the last 10 minutes they also drew at Henley Hawks.
Last season Park did the double over Coventry winning at home 27-15 and also winning the BPA return by 16-3.
Coventry Rugby will certainly be looking for revenge after last season and more importantly to prove that they have the credentials to match the top four sides in this league. Both sides need the win to keep pressure on leaders Doncaster Knights.
Both Coventry Rugby and Rosslyn Park have been noted this season for their effective scrum, witness Coventry’s display at Esher and Park’s display at Doncaster, so a full bloodied encounter is expected. However, it would be wrong to expect just a forward battle as both sides have shown this season they are capable of running in some high quality tries. With both sides noted for their strong defence no quarter will be given in what is expected to be a taut and exciting contest.
In what should be the largest crowd of the season in National League 1, a mouth-watering game is in prospect, so all fans be there early to support your team.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
3rd December 2013.
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